Bluegrass Greensource and Kentucky American Water present the Water Stewardship School Program

August 14, 2014By 0 comment

KAW logo

Bluegrass Greensource is excited to kick off a new school program this fall.  In partnership with Kentucky American Water, Greensource is offering a water quality and conservation education program for fourth grade students in Bourbon, Clark, Owen, Scott, and Woodford Counties.  Participating schools will spend two days working with Bluegrass Greensource educators in the classroom.  Students will be able to learn about where their drinking water comes from here in Central Kentucky – through Kentucky American Water’s pumping and filtration stations.  Students will also examine their watersheds and learn how they have a direct impact on the water they are drinking.  After exploring issues like point source and non-point source pollution, groundwater, and the water cycle, students will participate in a project that allows them to take action in their communities to improve local water quality.  All activities are aligned with Kentucky science standards and are hands-on learning opportunities for students.

If you are a teacher in one of these counties and are interested in participating, please contact Blair Hecker to schedule!

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Bluegrass Greensource and Bluegrass Conservancy Partner for Elkhorn Cleanup

August 14, 2014By 0 comment

riddle cleanup

Friday, July 18th was a cloudy, drizzly day here in Central Kentucky but that didn’t stop volunteers and staff from Bluegrass Greensource and Bluegrass Conservancy from heading out to the South Elkhorn Creek in Scott County to clean up litter and debris. Owned by Bob and Laura Riddle, the Riddle Farm off Fisher’s Mill Road features a one-mile section of the South Elkhorn that unfortunately captures a lot of trash and litter as the Elkhorn flows from Fayette County and through Scott County, especially during the flooding season in the spring. Participants climbed down the bank and into the stream around 10am and continued cleaning up until 1pm, collecting over 1150 pounds of material from the stream and its banks. Items collected included 20 bags of trash, nine tires, a bale of metal fencing, and even the dashboard from an old piece of farm machinery. Most trash was easily picked up with litter grabbers but the tires, some of which were sunk into the mud, had to be partially dug out and then pulled out with the use of chains and Mr. Riddle’s tractor. As for the impact of this cleanup, Mr. Riddle talked extensively with Rebecca Smith of WKYT about how he remembers thousands of ducks visiting the Elkhorn in his childhood, but over time those numbers have dwindled. Since he has been working with Bluegrass Conservancy to help preserve his property, the ducks have started to return. And that, he thinks, is a very good sign.

This cleanup was held in partnership with Kyle Goodwin, Georgetown City Engineer.

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